VOI World/ Desk
Canada study permits drop sharply for Indian students, falling by more than 50% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The decline reflects Canada’s tightening policy on international student intake amid housing pressures and affordability concerns.
According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Indian students received 24,030 study permits out of 146,505 issued between July and September 2025. In the same period in 2024, Indians accounted for nearly 30% of the overall study visas issued.
In September 2025, Indians received 8,400 permits, down from 14,385 issued in September 2024. The downward trend in Canada study permits drop is visible across three academic cycles. In 2023, Indian students received 41% of total permits issued. That number slid to just over a third in 2024, and has fallen below 25% in 2025.
The decline follows Canadian government policies introduced in late 2023, which placed additional controls on student inflow due to pressure on housing and local infrastructure. A 7% reduction in international study permits is projected next year, with IRCC announcing a 408,000 cap for 2026, including 155,000 new visas and 253,000 extensions.
